Mt. Diablo USD, Saint Mary's Launch Teacher Residency Program

CONCORD, CA —The Mt. Diablo Unified School District and Saint Mary’s College Kalmanovitz School of Education have partnered to implement a teacher residency program that is affordable and accessible while also addressing critical teacher shortages.

Through a grant from the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing, MDUSD will provide each teacher resident with a stipend to help offset tuition costs. This financial support makes the pathway to teaching significantly more accessible for aspiring educators who might otherwise face cost barriers, the district said.

"We are excited about the opportunity to increase the resources and options available to future educators while also maintaining our focus on improving quality instruction and high expectations for all of our students," said Wendi Aghily, chief of Pupil Services and Special Education for MDUSD. "This is an investment in the future that can have ripple effects for years to come."

The program integrates a full year of coursework on the Saint Mary's campus in Moraga with concurrent in-classroom student teaching under the guidance of experienced MDUSD mentor teachers. The integrated approach ensures theoretical knowledge is applied in real classroom settings, enhancing the relevance and effectiveness of the resident teachers' education while providing valuable support to MDUSD students.

S. Marshall Perry, an interim dean at Saint Mary's, highlighted the educational excellence at the core of the program.

"The partnership with Mt. Diablo exemplifies our Lasallian commitment to providing transformative education that prepares teachers for the complex realities of today's classrooms," Perry said. "Our distinctive curriculum, combined with an immersive classroom experience, ensures that teacher residents develop not only subject matter expertise but also the cultural competency, adaptive teaching skills, and reflective practice essential for educating the whole person.”

Upon successful completion of the program, residents will earn a California preliminary single-subject (math or science) or multiple-subject teaching credential, with an option to add a Bilingual Spanish Authorization certificate.

Additional benefits include:

• Tuition stipend
• Individualized mentorship
• Guaranteed substitute teaching opportunities
• Priority consideration for teaching positions within MDUSD

The program demonstrates both institutions' commitment to increasing teacher diversity to better represent the communities they serve. By creating more accessible pathways to teaching credentials, the partnership aims to develop a teacher workforce that brings diverse perspectives and cultural competencies to the classroom and community.

Those interested in learning more about the program can register to attend an online MDUSD Residency Information Session scheduled for 4:30 p.m. April 16.